Here's a STAR WARS: EPISODE VII rumor I'm sure you'll like a hell of a lot more than the last one. Jedi News is claiming that a source has told them that Ian McDiarmid will be back as Emperor Palpatine in the new film:

(Do I really need to put a spoiler tag for events from the original STAR WARS trilogy? Well just in case, this is your warning. There's also details about the STAR WARS expanded universe, so you might want to avoid that too.)

The specifics of the role are unclear, but it seems likely that McDiarmid will be returning to his signature role of Palpatine. Whether as the original or a clone of, we are yet to discern.

I'm not that familiar with the expanded universe for STAR WARS, but apparently Jedi News is referring to when Palpatine is reborn as a clone using an ancient Sith ritual, which would explain how he survived being thrown into a reactor shaft. McDiarmid has also expressed interest before about playing Palpatine again in another STAR WARS film or television series.

This seems the most likely casting rumor to be true for STAR WARS: EPISODE VII (besides the rumors about other previous cast members returning), but until anything is confirmed, you can't really get too excited (or disappointed, depending on how you feel about Palpatine once again being the villain in STAR WARS) about this news. Hopefully we'll have more solid details about STAR WARS: EPISODE VII in the near future because I don't know about you, but I'm sick of rumors.

I just hope that they're going to swing for the fences with this franchise, instead of following the usual Bad Robot model of relying on nostalgia to create new material. I'd like to see something original and different, that does for a new generation what the original Star Wars did for the generation before.

I just hope that they're going to swing for the fences with this franchise, instead of following the usual Bad Robot model of relying on nostalgia to create new material. I'd like to see something original and different, that does for a new generation what the original Star Wars did for the generation before.

only if Boba Fett returns as well

we needed more green in this thread.... I'm up for a clone. also it's too early to deduce if he'd be the ACTUAL Sith puppet-master in the new trilogy or just a quick cameo or a flashback or something where he isn't the main villain... I'd say save THAT plot for Star Wars VIIII

we needed more green in this thread.... I'm up for a clone. also it's too early to deduce if he'd be the ACTUAL Sith puppet-master in the new trilogy or just a quick cameo or a flashback or something where he isn't the main villain... I'd say save THAT plot for Star Wars VIIII

Just use him a bit like Ra's in TDKR—Sidious shows up as some vision a character sees while falling to the dark side and we never learn if it was his ghost or the dark side itself corrupting the person.

Just use him a bit like Ra's in TDKR—Sidious shows up as some vision a character sees while falling to the dark side and we never learn if it was his ghost or the dark side itself corrupting the person.

seriously?? I have respect for Ian McDiarmid as Emperor in Star Wars, but PLEASE DONT BRING HIM BACK , he died by the hand of Darth Vader...leave it at that and move on...because then you get into the habit of bring back old villians for weird reasons....for STAR WARS to continue well...you keep moving forward.

seriously?? I have respect for Ian McDiarmid as Emperor in Star Wars, but PLEASE DONT BRING HIM BACK , he died by the hand of Darth Vader...leave it at that and move on...because then you get into the habit of bring back old villians for weird reasons....for STAR WARS to continue well...you keep moving forward.

I'm an Abrams fan.

But this news doesn't sit well with me. Just like Star Trek Into Darkness, Abrams has an entire universe to play with, and the best he can come up with is to repeat a villain we've already seen and defeated in earlier films? No thanks. Give us the next Darth Maul, just don't blow it by having him in a film for 10 minutes and then getting killed.

But this news doesn't sit well with me. Just like Star Trek Into Darkness, Abrams has an entire universe to play with, and the best he can come up with is to repeat a villain we've already seen and defeated in earlier films? No thanks. Give us the next Darth Maul, just don't blow it by having him in a film for 10 minutes and then getting killed.

I never liked the idea of bringing back the old cast. Its just the safe thing to do. Considering how large the Star Wars universe is, its just lame. I would rather see the it take place in the Old Republic times. But that might require some creativity and originality.

I never liked the idea of bringing back the old cast. Its just the safe thing to do. Considering how large the Star Wars universe is, its just lame. I would rather see the it take place in the Old Republic times. But that might require some creativity and originality.

I know he has clones in the Expanded Universe, but I have never accepted that as a good idea. It's cheap and lame. I was hoping these new movies wouldn't allow themselves to be dragged down by the contrived garbage of the Expanded Universe. If he is indeed coming back as Palpatine, and it's not a flashback, then I can confidently now state that I have absolutely no interest in these movies. It's one of my pet peeves when great stories go backwards in a pathetic attempt to recapture their

I know he has clones in the Expanded Universe, but I have never accepted that as a good idea. It's cheap and lame. I was hoping these new movies wouldn't allow themselves to be dragged down by the contrived garbage of the Expanded Universe. If he is indeed coming back as Palpatine, and it's not a flashback, then I can confidently now state that I have absolutely no interest in these movies. It's one of my pet peeves when great stories go backwards in a pathetic attempt to recapture their grandeur.

I thought the clone was a much younger version of the emperor. I just hope this new trilogy will be better than the prequels. When Episode III came out, I was hoping that there would more action after Vadet was put into the armor, like actual saber fights during actual Jedi purge scenes. I was very disappointed.

I thought the clone was a much younger version of the emperor. I just hope this new trilogy will be better than the prequels. When Episode III came out, I was hoping that there would more action after Vadet was put into the armor, like actual saber fights during actual Jedi purge scenes. I was very disappointed.

Perhaps his role will be contained to flashbacks? or hologram footage? I'm betting that the new threat with be linked to Palpatine in a major way. Perhaps during the old trilogy he had a secret apprentice in case the Skywalkers failed him. Or maybe it will be a Grand Admiral Thrawn type character that was highly involved in the events of the old trilogy but behind the scenes the entire time. I doubt JJ would be stupid enough to go with a clone of Paplatine story line. That would totally defeat

Perhaps his role will be contained to flashbacks? or hologram footage? I'm betting that the new threat with be linked to Palpatine in a major way. Perhaps during the old trilogy he had a secret apprentice in case the Skywalkers failed him. Or maybe it will be a Grand Admiral Thrawn type character that was highly involved in the events of the old trilogy but behind the scenes the entire time. I doubt JJ would be stupid enough to go with a clone of Paplatine story line. That would totally defeat the ending of Jedi and Vader's killing of Palpy.

Whatever his role may be I'm all for some more McDiarmid in these films. The best thing about the prequels was watching Palpatine's rise to power and McDiarmid played it perfectly. Even though he's pretty over the top in Revenge he makes it work perfectly. [link][link]

Palpatine had his run...

I think Ian is great but I want to see something new. I really think if Palpatine shows up (clone or not) it would really take away from the climax of ROTJ. I would rather see Luke deal with a resurrected clone of his father in the form of a whole bodied, fully brainwashed, badass sith with no good left in him at all...

I think Ian is great but I want to see something new. I really think if Palpatine shows up (clone or not) it would really take away from the climax of ROTJ. I would rather see Luke deal with a resurrected clone of his father in the form of a whole bodied, fully brainwashed, badass sith with no good left in him at all...

I hope this is true

To think the Empire will just cease to exist because the top commander is dead would be idiotic. Plus, Palpatine was indeed narcissistic, but he wasn't foolish. I'm sure he cloned himself as a safe guard to avoid death.

To think the Empire will just cease to exist because the top commander is dead would be idiotic. Plus, Palpatine was indeed narcissistic, but he wasn't foolish. I'm sure he cloned himself as a safe guard to avoid death.

All that is covered in the expanded universe. The Empire remained in power for a bit after, but not long. There's also entire novel dedicated to fighting forces led by Palpatine clones. That being said, your comment assumes that this will be taking place immediately following Episode VI. There's been no confirmation of that at all. Even the title of this article says that this news is just a rumor.

All that is covered in the expanded universe. The Empire remained in power for a bit after, but not long. There's also entire novel dedicated to fighting forces led by Palpatine clones. That being said, your comment assumes that this will be taking place immediately following Episode VI. There's been no confirmation of that at all. Even the title of this article says that this news is just a rumor.

A majority of the people who go to see this movie will have never read the expanded universe, so what's your point? Besides, them using Palpatine again doesn't conclude we'll be seeing a Dark Empire trilogy--only the likelihood of a similar plot point. And did you not notice when I said "I hope this is true"; I didn't indicate this was news or a statement of the facts--just more wishful thinking. Finally, the battle with the remaining officials of the Empire doesn't have to pick-up right after

A majority of the people who go to see this movie will have never read the expanded universe, so what's your point? Besides, them using Palpatine again doesn't conclude we'll be seeing a Dark Empire trilogy--only the likelihood of a similar plot point. And did you not notice when I said "I hope this is true"; I didn't indicate this was news or a statement of the facts--just more wishful thinking. Finally, the battle with the remaining officials of the Empire doesn't have to pick-up right after the ending of VI, it could easily pick-up 40 years later with everyone old and Luke attempting to train new Jedi with the help of Han and Leia's possible grandchildren at that point.

My point is that Disney flat out said that they will stay away from the EU as much as possible because they don't want to contradict it and risk pissing a bunch of people off. I was at the D23 Expo this weekend and Pablo Hidalgo himself said that the EU is too ingrained in the identity of Star Wars to just toss to the side.

My point is that Disney flat out said that they will stay away from the EU as much as possible because they don't want to contradict it and risk pissing a bunch of people off. I was at the D23 Expo this weekend and Pablo Hidalgo himself said that the EU is too ingrained in the identity of Star Wars to just toss to the side.